PlotA blockbuster political drama based on a unified Korean Peninsula about the powers fighting over the country’s natural resources.

Notes 1. Filming is expected to begin September and air January, 2012.
2. Literal title of "Hanbando" is "Korean Peninsula".
3. "Hanbando" will air on newly created (October 3, 2011) cable TV channel CSTV.
4. Im Seul-Ong (scheduled to play NIS agent Kang Dong-Won) dropped out the show due to the busy schedule.

Drama "Hanbando - Drama" worth 20 billion won is having difficulties with casting a male role.

The production has been contacting Jang Dong-gun. Kim Myeong-min, kwon Sang-woo and more. However, because of matters like their 'schedule', the production Lemon Rain is looking for other options. Recently it has been let known that they have contacted Park Shin-yang.

"Hanbando - Drama" which is due to be released in December, deals with the enmity between powerful countries for Korea's resources. The casting of the male role seemed to be easy with it being worth millions of won, shot in all locations overseas and fancy action scenes but it turned out to be the opppsite.

According to a management of an actor who refused the role, the continuous fail of big dramas and the fact that the character of the president has to express acting, charisma and others at the same time came as a burden.

Major dramas like "ATHENA" and "The Fugitive Plan B" were much lower in ratings then expected. Also, the president character not often seen in dramas or movies also didn't catch anyone's attention.

Productions Lemon Rain is planning on starting their shoot after the casting has been finished.

It is most likely Jang Dong Gun, Ha Ji Won, Jaejoong will be working together in a drama.Their stage will be a drama about a unified Peninsula, <Peninsula>

Administered for more than 10 billion won production fee, the main characters of <Peninsula> will be the president of the Unified Republic of Korea, his love and rival and the Chief of NIS (National Intelligence Service). Jang Dong-gun is up for the role of the President and Ha Ji Won as his partner. JYJ's Jaejoong is up for the role of the NIS chief.

With the background of a unified Korea they will appear as a proud Korean who fight with great powers over Korea's resources. If this casting is confirmed it will be one of the dream casts coming to reality.

Jang Dong Gun is currently reviewing the possibility of appearing in this drama. It will be a large scale drama and the role is a good one so if the other detailed matters are okay, he has told the production company he has intention of appearing this drama. Ha Ji Won said she will join as soon as she is done with the filming of her current movie. Jaejoong had appeared in the Japanese Movie <Heaven's Postman> and drama <Hard To Say I Love You>. This will be his first Korean drama so he is working very hard on it.

<Peninsula> will have CG effects and various action scenes such as a battle. It will be a colorful masterpiece which production costs will be astronomical. Countless number of celebrities have offered to be in this drama according to the production staff. Besides Jang Dong Gun, Ha Ji Won and Jaejoong, they will be looking for other top stars to cast in the drama. <Peninsula> will be produced by the company who produced the hit drama <SungKyunKwan Scandal>. The production staff said they will do their best to make one of the best Korean dramas in history.

One official said, "Jang Dong Gun, Ha Ji-won and YWJJ's appearance are 90% confirmed," and "Since this will be a large scale drama, there is a lot of interest coming not only from broadcasting companies but other channels as well."
<Peninsula> will film in June/July and plan to air in October of this year.

Rumor has it that Han Ga-in (Bad Guy) and Hwang Jung-min (Accidental Couple / That Fool) might be returning to dramaland together, in the mega-million blockbuster cable drama Korean Peninsula, a cable drama from CSTV (owned by Joseon Ilbo, a news network). Nothing’s been confirmed on either side, but it’s a good sign that the production is finally back in the casting game.

It’s a drama that’s been in the works for a long time, rumored to once be the drama comeback vehicle for Jang Dong-gun, while other A-list names like Ha Ji-won and Park Shin-yang have been bandied about as well. But after those casting rumors died, the project seemed to be on the backburner for a while. Can’t imagine that Jang Dong-gun NOT doing your drama is anything other than a setback, but if Hwang Jung-min is set to headline, it’ll officially be back to being A-list.

There’s a 2006 movie of the same name (starring Ahn Sung-ki and Cha In-pyo), which is essentially the same setting, so it looks like the drama’s going to explore and extend that same premise — from what I understand, it’s a futuristic fantasy setup where the North and South Koreas reunite, and then all hell breaks loose over the two countries’ fight over natural resources. It sort of encapsulates the South’s fear in reunification, in a nutshell. Also the title, Han Peninsula, is han as in Korea, but can also be a play on One Peninsula, as in two countries, now one, on one tiny strip o’ land.

The real question for me is not so much in the casting, but in the drama itself, because this is a huge experiment in producing such a large-scale blockbuster drama outside of network television, with no intent to air on on the big three networks (KBS, SBS, MBC). In theory it could be a great way for the cable network to gain a foothold in the drama realm, with a big splash and A-list names (This is no doubt why Jang Dong-gun was their first stop). But the giant 20-million-won pink elephant in the room is… what if no one watches?

Cable dramas get something like a 1-2% share in ratings IF it’s a successful show. To compete with the big three, to somehow get a 20% share (the current marker of a ratings hit)… I just don’t know if it’s possible. It’s fascinating as an experiment because I do think that if besting the big three is your goal, going big budget, big stars is the only way to try and make a dent in the ratings. I do think the premise is pretty damn cool, and if these two were to headline, I’d be on that train in a heartbeat.

Korean Peninsula will be penned by writer Yoon Sun-ju, of Hwang Jini, and is set to air on CSTV in January 2012.

2AM‘s Seulong has been reportedly cast in the new TV Chosun drama ‘Korean Peninsula‘. However, it seems it hasn’t been 100% confirmed as of yet as a representative stated, “It is true that we are currently in negotiations but nothing has been confirmed yet.”

His agency Big Hit Entertainment has informed TV Report on the 21st, “He has yet to sign the contract so we can’t officially say that he has been cast on the show.”

‘Korean Peninsula’ is a special series being released in commemoration of the establishment of the new cable channel, TV Chosun. The drama tells the story of a united Korea, instead of being divided into North and South. The drama scheduled to air sometime in December and tells a fictional romance story entailing enmity, action, and various ideologies.

The drama was written by Yoon Sun Joo, who has also written the scripts for “The Immortal Lee Soon Shin“, “Hwang Jin“, and “King Sejong“. The drama will be directed by Lee Hyung Min who has worked on projects such as “Sorry. I love you“, and “Ice Queen“. Hwang Jung Min and Kim Jung Eun have been also cast as the president and first lady, which is causing quite the stir amongst netizens.

If he officially joins the cast, Seulong will be playing the role of Hwang Jung Min’s assistant bodyguard.

2AM’s Seulong will not be acting in upcoming drama, ‘Korean Peninsula’

Earlier this week, it was rumored that 2AM‘s Seulong had received a casting offer for TV Chosun‘s upcoming drama, ‘Korean Peninsula‘. Unfortunately, representatives of both the drama and JYP Entertainment have revealed that Seulong was unable to accept the offer due to his busy schedule.

On October 26th, representatives stated, “Im Seulong had tried to balance his schedule to work with the drama, but ultimately couldn’t find a way to fit it in. He will not be joining the drama.”

Seulong was supposed to take on the role of a bodyguard for actor Hwang Jung Min, who will act as the president. He had participated in a recent script reading, which added weight to his casting rumors. Unfortunately, his schedule made it difficult to finalize.

Other idols are being considered for the role, as it is a highly important one in the plot. Producers stated, “At this point, we’re considering casting rookie actors.”

New cable channel TV Chosun presents a new blockbuster drama in the early 2012.

The drama titled Hanbando / Korean Peninsula, tells story in the background of the future-virtual divided Korea when the unification-talking is in progress as well as the co-ordination between the North and South to develop alternative energy resources.

This drama’s casts are lead by veteran actor Hwang Jung Min (The Fool) and Korean sweetheart Kim Jung Eun (Lovers in Paris).
Hwang Jung Min plays South Korean man Seo Myung Joon, a former scientist who rises into president and unifies Korea.